£4000 reliable mercedes?

[philnewmerc]

Thanks for the reality check all. Toyota auris/Avensis, Honda accord/CRV... I think this is my destiny

Any other suggestions?

 

[st13phil]

Any other suggestions?

Mondeo?

We have a few Mondeo taxis around here with intergalactic mileage but no rattles, knocks or squeaks.

 

[clk320x]

pre facelift W212 651
People on here will scare you off any car, the internet blows issues out of proportion.

 

[AMGeed]

I'd look for a facelift W204 C 220Cdi.
But to echo st13phil above, doing 25k in a year without any problems is a big ask but not impossible.
A boring Toyota however

 

[Petrol Pete]

OP , you have not mentioned one important detail.....are you any good with car DIY are you willing (and/or able) to do all of the service work on the £4K Mercedes. ?

 

[philnewmerc]

OP , you have not mentioned one important detail.....are you any good with car DIY are you willing (and/or able) to do all of the service work on the £4K Mercedes. ?

Able? Probably. Willing? Nope

I don't mind spending on occasional one off issues, but i can't have a troublesome car for the year ahead as I'll be visiting clients. But on the other hand I do like comfort and mercs in general

 

[Will]

I’m sure someone posted another 211 with about 10k miles on it - or maybe I saw it on Autotrader?

Wasn’t expensive either!

 

[markjay]

Toyota (and Lexus) models typically occupy 8 out of the 10 top spots in almost every car reliability survey.

I had a Toyota Previa for 20 years... built like a Centurion battle tank.

I also had good experience with Kia, Hyundai, and Suzuki.

 

[philnewmerc]

Toyota (and Lexus) models typically occupy 8 out of the 10 top spots in almost every car reliability survey.

I had a Toyota Previa for 20 years... built like a Centurion battle tank.

I also had good experience with Kia, Hyundai, and Suzuki.

Hadn't considered Korean seriously. Would you say Kia and Hyundai were in the Japanese reliability league?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

What sort of usage pattern are we talking? If it’s the same(ish) every day then 100 miles per day isn’t that much and could be done in pretty much anything.

My office and the airport are both 70 miles from home and I do that almost every weekday in a Smart ForFour, and I wouldn’t think twice about driving 200 miles in one day.

 

[markjay]

Hadn't considered Korean seriously. Would you say Kia and Hyundai were in the Japanese reliability league?

Suzuki and Nissan league, yes.

Toyota and Honda league, not quite, but close.

Personal opinion...

 

[philnewmerc]

What sort of usage pattern are we talking? If it’s the same(ish) every day then 100 miles per day isn’t that much and could be done in pretty much anything.

My office and the airport are both 70 miles from home and I do that almost every weekday in a Smart ForFour, and I wouldn’t think twice about driving 200 miles in one day.

Very random usage and not every day. Could be 10 miles one visit and 500 the next. After browsing i quite like the Honda Accord and CRV. Not the cheapest to run, but seem reliable and comfy often with cruise and heated seats, which are both a real boon.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

If it were me I’d go Mondeo without a further thought. Lots about, Titanium X well appointed, handle great but comfy, and the heated front windscreen is a real boon in winter. The one I had was ultra reliable up to 160k when I sold it, and it’s still going strong (sold it to a neighbour)

 

[ALFAitalia]

Unless I missed it you didn't mention whether you need 4 doors or not.... if I only paid about £1500 for my old w209 in 200k spec. Bought it at 140k in near spotless condition, sold it at about 160k.... never missed a beat.... .I would have kept it longer if it had not been so boring to drive! Very comfy over long d8stance....but a long way down into the seats! But I'd rather be seen getting out of a stylish coupe to visit clients than some non descript far Eastern car.... but that might not matter to you.

 

[philnewmerc]

If it were me I’d go Mondeo without a further thought. Lots about, Titanium X well appointed, handle great but comfy, and the heated front windscreen is a real boon in winter. The one I had was ultra reliable up to 160k when I sold it, and it’s still going strong (sold it to a neighbour)

A couple of people have mentioned the Mondeo, so I have had a Google and they seem to be reasonably reliable. However, if possible I would prefer an automatic and the power shift Ford gearbox seems to be problematic. It's not clear if this is because owners skip on servicing though, and the power shift in the Mondeo is a wet clutch and not a dry clutch, and it seems that the wet clutch is more reliable... Hard to say and I'm not sure it's worth the risk.

Unless I missed it you didn't mention whether you need 4 doors or not.... if I only paid about £1500 for my old w209 in 200k spec. Bought it at 140k in near spotless condition, sold it at about 160k.... never missed a beat.... .I would have kept it longer if it had not been so boring to drive! Very comfy over long d8stance....but a long way down into the seats! But I'd rather be seen getting out of a stylish coupe to visit clients than some non descript far Eastern car.... but that might not matter to you.

It doesn't really matter what my car looks like the clients won't see it. I did have a w209 and liked it very much. But it also had lots of niggling faults, which I will no longer have the time to fiddle with. Isn't the supercharged 4 cylinder the unreliable one?

Thanks for all the ideas, it is much appreciated

 

[Will]

Yes, the M271 has a reputation for chewing up timing chains.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Mine was done long before I got it....

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

You asked for a £4,000 reliable vehicle capable of doing 2,000 miles a month economically, reliably and comfortable for long trips

It has to be a Honda Accord, Toyota Auris, or Lexus GS / IS.

I’m a fan of both the E Class and the BMW Drier, but I can’t, hand on heart, say that you’d pick one up without faults and run it for 25k without putting your hand in your wallet for more than £4k.

Me? I’d go either go for the IS250, or GS450h but really I’d …. Sell the AMG - because it’ll go when you get the company car anyway

 

[philnewmerc]

You asked for a £4,000 reliable vehicle capable of doing 2,000 miles a month economically, reliably and comfortable for long trips

It has to be a Honda Accord, Toyota Auris, or Lexus GS / IS.

I’m a fan of both the E Class and the BMW Drier, but I can’t, hand on heart, say that you’d pick one up without faults and run it for 25k without putting your hand in your wallet for more than £4k.

Me? I’d go either go for the IS250, or GS450h but really I’d …. Sell the AMG - because it’ll go when you get the company car anyway

View attachment 155221

I agree the Jap big 2 are the way to go. Not considered Lexus but will now. There is one near me but it is nearly £700 a year tax... I know I know it's not the end of the world but I cannot pay top tax for a slow car (actually: any car) on general principle. But in general I will keep an eye out for a Lexus. Also, not sure I would trust CVT auto +battery in the bigger ones. But normal auto and manual I'm sure will be mega reliable. On the other hand, what happens if I twist my left ankle and can't use the clutch? I'll be ruined. Has the be an auto I think

have considered selling the AMG but the company car will never be a 'special' car, probably just a CLA or A4 or something equally dull but good value.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I agree the Jap big 2 are the way to go. Not considered Lexus but will now. There is one near me but it is nearly £700 a year tax... I know I know it's not the end of the world but I cannot pay top tax for a slow car (actually: any car) on general principle. But in general I will keep an eye out for a Lexus. Also, not sure I would trust CVT auto +battery in the bigger ones. But normal auto and manual I'm sure will be mega reliable. On the other hand, what happens if I twist my left ankle and can't use the clutch? I'll be ruined. Has the be an auto I think

have considered selling the AMG but the company car will never be a 'special' car, probably just a CLA or A4 or something equally dull but good value.

I understand your scepticism about Toyota hybrids but these have been around for a very long time now, doing high mileages (especially in the States) in the hands of people who think they’re great.

I wouldn’t buy one because of the CVT box, but I’m not the client here.